WASHINGTON, D.C. — NASA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched the SBIC-NASA Initiative on June 29, 2026. This initiative aims to increase investment for American manufacturers of industrial components and providers of technologies essential to space exploration.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler signed a Memorandum of Agreement to establish the initiative at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington, D.C. The SBIC-NASA Initiative supports the goal of maintaining a sustained presence on the Moon and Mars.

Under the terms of the agreement, NASA will identify specific technology priorities and connect businesses with funding opportunities through the NASA Office of Strategic Capital. The initiative augments the investable capital for investment funds licensed by the SBA as part of the agency's Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program, which uses leverage to match private capital raised by investment funds.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, "To achieve President Trump's National Space Policy, NASA needs a stronger industrial base capable of moving at the speed this new space race demands." He added, "Through the NASA Office of Strategic Capital, this partnership with the SBA will help small businesses access the capital they need to scale, strengthen critical supply chains, rebuild America's industrial might, and deliver the outcomes necessary to ensure the United States leads the next era of space exploration."

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said, "To meet President Trump's objective of securing American leadership on every frontier, the SBA and NASA are partnering to supercharge the industrial base behind our space program and connect the innovators building critical technologies with needed capital."

Why It Matters

The SBIC-NASA Initiative represents a coordinated effort between two federal agencies to bolster the U.S. space industry by increasing access to capital for small businesses in space technology and manufacturing. The partnership leverages existing financial mechanisms through the SBA's Small Business Investment Company Program to channel investment into specific technological areas identified by NASA, addressing the financial needs of small businesses critical to the aerospace supply chain.